MSRP on a new Monkey without ABS is $3,999 plus a $190 destination charge. Here’s a barely-used example (100 miles) that will set you back just $2,500.
5 Miles – 1989 Suzuki GSX-R750RK
Post Sale Update: This RK sold for $41,100 + 7% buyer’s fee = $43,977 after 141 bids on Iconic Motorbike Auctions. A collector friend in Arizona is letting go of some of his “zero mile bikes” over on Iconic Motorbike Auctions. The first one is a Suzuki GSX-R750RK, which is arguably the most special of the Gixxers as it was …
CA Titled – 1991 Kawasaki KR-1S
Post Listing Update: This KR-1S did not get any action at the BIN of $17,000. In the late 80’s, Kawi had some success with their KR250 road racer, and released the Kawasaki KR-1 as a wonderful little two-stroke race rep. It was quite successful, triggering increased competition from the big 4, and it set off a 250cc 2-stroke war among …
86 Miles – 1985 Yamaha TY350
Post Sale Update: This TY350 sold for $3,149 after 32 bids on eBay in Lowell, Massachusetts. In the late 60s, Yamaha made its first entry in a European trial championship in France with their 250 DT, a bike better suited for dual sporting. In 1970, the sales manager of a French Yamaha dealership was contacted by the current French trial …
1969 Honda CL350
Post Listing Update: This Golden Flash was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown. As Honda’s scramblers got bigger, they became more street focused. Cycle magazine called the CL350 not “really a scrambler at all, but a street-scrambler…doubt arises regarding the bike’s suitability for bashing around rocks and pines.” .
Back in Black – 1980 Kawasaki Z1R
Post Sale Update: This Z1R sold for $18,050 after 30 bids on eBay in Buford, Georgia. 1-26-21 Update: 3+ years later, this Z1R is back up for sale and the new owner has bravely gone with a no reserve listing. He purchased it on eBay the last time it was featured here, and has since covered approximately 600 miles with …
Yoshimura Equipped – 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750
Though the model debuted in 1985, Suzuki’s legendary Gixxer line did not make its way to the US until 1986. The changes were minor – better headlights, a revised belly pan, and 25mm longer swingarm, but Americans were probably too busy drooling over the first true street-legal race replica sold in this market to notice.
Yamaha XS650 Race Bike
With TZ700 bodywork and a custom gas tank, this fascinating AHRMA racer checks plenty of boxes for Yamaha fans.
1-Owner, No Reserve – 1972 Honda CL175
Post Sale Update: This CL175 sold for $3,250 after 94 bids on eBay in Mentor, Ohio. Honda’s successor to their popular 160cc twin was the 175, which was offered in CB, SL, and CL variants. This one-owner example of the CL comes with a level of paperwork that I almost never see!
1996 Honda Pacific Coast
The Honda Pacific Coast was considered a radical bike when it debuted, designed specifically for the US market (and named after the PCH). With its integrated trunk, unique bodywork, and automotive-like instrumentation, the Pacific Coast was marketed towards white-collar professionals as an easy daily rider. These really were some of the easiest motorcycles in the world to own and maintain, …
1981 Honda CT70
Post Sale Update: This CT70 sold for $3,200 after 53 bids on eBay in South Jordan, Utah. For 1981, Honda offered up the venerable CT70 in one color – Tahitian Red. Here’s a highly original example that still features the style that was specific for ’81, like a red front fender, black/blue/white stripe, and black heat shield.
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo
Post Listing Update: This CX500 Turbo sold for $10,141 after 22 bids on eBay in Beaverton, Oregon…however the sale appears to have fallen through as the bike was later relisted and then did not meet reserve with 24 bids up to $8,600. Depending on how you define “production”, Kawasaki was the first motorcycle manufacturer to roll out a turbocharged motorcycle. …
“TZ450” – Yamaha TZ250 Frame with Kawasaki KX450F Engine
The Yamaha TZ250 dates back to 1973, and over an impressive production run through 2009 the two-stroke production road racer was competitive all over the world. The seller of this example is a bit light on details as he never rode it, but this bike stands out as it’s got the four-stroke fuel-injected heart from a Kawasaki KX450 motocrosser. In …
1987 Honda CR500
Post Sale Update: This CR500 sold for $10,000 after 16 bids on eBay in Dacula, Georgia. When originally released in 1984, the CR500 was the most powerful MX bike that Honda had ever produced. It quickly got a reputation for pinging (including the nickname of “Ping King”), which was rectified the next year with liquid-cooling. The rest was history – …
1992 Yamaha WR500
Built by blending the YZ250 and YZ490, the WR500 was a rare offering that was best served as a trail bike that could mix it up on the race track every once in a while.